The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) has officially reopened its verification portal, allowing nurses and midwives to submit verification requests on the council’s website. This news was confirmed after a check by our correspondent on Saturday, where the portal displayed the message: “Good news, verification requests are back online. Please note that henceforth expiration dates on renewal applications will be calculated based on the date you applied.”
Anthony Ijeoma, a nurse from Nursingworld Nigeria, also confirmed that the portal is now active again. He praised the efforts of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) for making this happen. Ijeoma also commended NMCN for responding to the requests of nurses both within Nigeria and abroad by reopening the verification portal.
Earlier this year, the sudden deactivation of the portal in February caused significant distress for many Nigerian nurses and midwives working overseas. Without the necessary verification from the NMCN, many found themselves in violation of visa conditions and employment laws, which led to legal challenges. Some nurses in countries like the United Kingdom and the United States were forced to return to Nigeria due to the lack of certification.
On February 7, the NMCN had issued new guidelines for certificate verification. These guidelines stipulated that nurses and midwives must have at least two years of post-qualification experience from the date of receiving their permanent practicing license. Additionally, the council required a letter of good standing from the applicant’s employer and their last nursing training institution, with responses sent directly to the Registrar/CEO of NMCN.
These new rules led to protests from various state chapters of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, including those in Lagos, Ogun, Kwara, Ebonyi, Bauchi, Kaduna, Yenagoa, Ondo, and Plateau. Several nurses and midwives took legal action against the NMCN, while others petitioned the council, demanding the withdrawal of the new verification guidelines.
On February 27, the House of Representatives intervened, requesting that the council halt the implementation of the revised guidelines. Many healthcare professionals felt that the council’s actions were aimed at limiting their opportunities to seek better career prospects abroad. This was perceived as part of the Federal Government’s plan to curb the emigration of health workers, which has been a growing concern in recent years.
As of Friday, NANNM had urged the Federal Government to address the association’s demands, including the reopening of the certificate verification portal, payment of salaries for all NMCN staff, the formation of the council’s board, and the creation of a special salary structure for nurses or an immediate review of nurses’ professional allowances.
More updates to follow.
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